This month’s Workshop Wednesday featured marketing strategist and author Toni Harris, who discussed the power of email marketing and social media engagement in growing a business.

“Email marketing is a way to hand your message to your clients,” said Harris, who also represents Constant Contact, the largest email marketing company in the world. “Only a small percentage of your contacts will see your social media posts, a lot more will see your direct email, so it’s important to create content that engages your audience.”

Attendees were presented with tips on compiling engaging content, expanding contact lists, tools to give a professional appearance to e-communications, and networking more effectively.

“Sometimes people tell me they are dealing out business cards and nothing ever comes of that,” Harris said. “I encourage people to dig deeper in networking, what I call active networking. I try to leave networking events with three to five people on my schedule, to meet with one-on-one at a later date.”

HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department hosts Workshop Wednesday, which is held on the first Wednesday of each month. Topics covered vary and are targeted to provide relevant information and assistance to M/WBEs interested in doing business with the district.

For more information on upcoming workshops and networking opportunities, contact the Business Assistance Supplier Diversity office at 713-556-7273.